Scheetz Family Web

Return to Main Page Previous Page Next Page

Astronomical League's page for the Planetary Nebula Program

I completed the Basic/Silver award in October 2023 (certificate only) where I obseverd 61 objects.
This page is for the Advanced/Gold showing progress on observing the remaining 49 objects.

There are objects in the 110 object list that I think are too difficult for my 8" SCT. There were several that I could not see when I was working on the silver level.

Negative observations will be accepted for the Gold Level if sufficient evidence is submitted to establish that the proper field was examined on
at least two separate attempts and every reasonable effort was made to detect the object. To record a negative observation, the observer must
make at least two observing attempts on different nights, record all of the data required for a standard observation and describe in detail the methodology
used to confirm that the proper position was examined. Each negative attempt MUST include a sketch of the star field.
Observers are encouraged to make as many attempts to detect the object as possible and to submit negative observations only when resigned that detection is impossible.

Observation Sites used to complete this program in order of Sky Quality

Name	Lat/Long (decimal)	Sky Quality	Bortle Class
Home	36.71,-76.19	19.36	Class 6
Cornland Park, Chesapeake, VA	36.63,-76.32	20.52	Class 4
Northwest River Park, Chesapeake, VA	36.59,-76.16	20.72	Class 4
Chippokes State Park, VA	37.14,-76.72	20.83	Class 4
Marsh Causeway Knotts Island, NC	36.54,-75.96	21.44	Class 4
Staunton River State Park, VA	36.70,-78.68	21.66	Class 4
James River State Park, VA	37.63, -78.81	21.81	Class 3

Note: SQM and Bortle ratings from ClearOutside
Click here to see forecasts and detail site information.

Telescope Used

All observations made with an 8" Celestron NexStar Evolution Telescope.
Aperture 8" (203mm), Focal Length 2033mm, F/10

Eyepiece Magnifications

Eyepiece	Magnification	FOV (field of view)
40mm ES68 2"	51x	1.34° or 80'
24mm ES68 1.25"	85x	0.8° or 48'
14mm TeleVue Delos 1.25"	145x	0.5° or 30'
10mm TeleVue Delos 1.25"	203x	0.35° or 21'
Celestron Finder Scope	9x	5°

Filters I Used For This Program

Filter Name
Orion Ultrablock UHC
Orion OIII
Orion SkyGlow

Filters are in an Orion filter wheel to make comparisons easy. Filter wheel adds 20mm to the focal length.
For large PNs I like the Ultrablock and SkyGlow filters as then increase contrast without dimming the object too much. The OIII often just dims large objects too much for my 8" scope.
For stellar PNs the OIII filter works great in helping identifying the PN. It usually greatly increases contrast so that the non PN object are really dimmed making the PN stand out.
However for this program I tried to observe with all three filters commenting on their effects.